A Sweet Death, page 16
part #3 of Stoneybrook Series
Like a mother lifting a car off her child, Hadley’s fingers filled with the renewed strength of adrenaline. She tore at Dennis’s ropes, and was able to untie the bond around his wrists before the door to the supply room above opened with a sickening click.
Working even faster, she moved on to the rope around his middle. Dennis tried to lean forward to help with his ankles, but couldn’t reach, still tied to the chair back as he was. Her fingers flew across the knot, pulling here, pushing there, tugging. A hot tear spilled down her cheek.
Footsteps clomped overhead, stopping at the top of the stairs. She was sure she would see the beam of a flashlight if she looked up, but she couldn’t even spare the second to do so.
“A delivery van?” a voice called down the stairs, sending a chill down Hadley’s spine.
The knot finally gave, and Dennis leaned forward, grabbing at the ropes around his ankles. He waved Hadley over to Miranda.
She hadn’t even started on Miranda’s fist knot when Kennedy walked down the stairway and came into view. Out of his white jacket, and wearing jeans and a sweater, the man looked like any father, maybe grandfather. Except for the look on his face that would haunt Hadley for as long as she lived. There was a predatory amusement behind his eyes, and his mouth was pulled into a sickening smile.
There wasn’t a shred of humor in his voice as he barked out, “Stop moving, all of you.”
Dennis stopped, sitting back in his chair, and Hadley’s hands froze as she noticed the gun Kennedy had pointed at Dennis—nope, now at her.
“Step out from behind there.” He motioned with the gun.
Hadley stood slowly and took a step away from Miranda. She held her hands in front of her body even though he hadn’t asked her to do so, not wanting to give him any reason to shoot. It wasn’t like she had anything more than lavender spray anyway.
“Dennis, it looks like your number of victims just doubled.” Kennedy tsked. “What a tragedy it will be when they find you’ve shot both of these young women and then yourself.”
Hadley’s stomach dropped. “I’ve already told the police it was you,” she blurted out.
Kennedy’s attention whipped over to her. He narrowed his eyes.
“Your cover is blown. They know about the drugs, about Casey, about Zack, and now they know you have Miranda. I’m surprised you’re here since they’re probably already at your house.” Hadley inched her hands down as she talked.
Eyes darkening for a moment, Kennedy started to laugh, shooting Dennis and Miranda a can you believe this lady? kinda look. Hadley used the few moments his eyes were off her to reach into her pocket, palm the spray, and pull it out. She squeezed her other hand into a fist so it would just appear like she was angry or scared.
“Good one.” Kennedy’s gaze returned to Hadley. “I like your spunk. Tell me they’re coming, they’re onto me, so I’ll get flustered and make a mistake.” He shook his head. “No one’s coming, are they? You’re all alone.”
His even tone wiggled into her psyche and rattled her nerves. She’d told Paul, right? Yes, Paul knew. Then why hadn’t the sheriff’s department been at Kennedy’s house? How was he here? Maybe no one believed Paul. Maybe Paul didn’t believe her.
Her whole body went cold.
But before all hope left her, there was a noise above. It wasn’t loud, but it was there. Was someone else here? The thought she might not be alone sparked that hope and it caught fire. Kennedy had caught the noise as well, and as he took a step back to glance up the stairway, Hadley jumped at her chance, literally.
She launched herself at the man, holding the spray bottle out in front and squirting it right into his eyes.
Kennedy yelled out in surprise, lowering the gun in the process. She could hear chair legs scraping across the concrete, but couldn’t concentrate on what Dennis was doing. She needed to get the gun.
But as Hadley reached out to wrestle the gun from his grip, Kennedy elbowed her in the gut, sending her staggering back. She wheezed, clutching at her stomach and was about to try again when she saw an object swing through the air and collide with the side of Kennedy’s skull.
He sank to the floor, the gun clattering out of his hand.
Luke Fenton looked down at the man at his feet, lowering a baseball bat as his worried eyes met Hadley’s.
“Is there a reason it smells like lavender in here?” he asked.
The emergency blanket crinkled around Hadley’s shoulders as Sheriff Mark McKay paced in front of the ambulance.
“The old hospital, right. See you in a few,” McKay grumbled into the phone.
Luke, sitting next to her in the back of the ambulance, bumped his knee into hers. Hadley smiled, but focused on McKay as he hung up the call and ambled over.
“Your brother is almost here. He’ll be happy to see you well.” McKay nodded before mumbling something about paperwork as he waddled away.
“He’s never been known for his warm and fuzzy demeanor, has he?” Luke chuckled.
“No.” Hadley breathed the word out, surrounded in a happy sigh. She couldn’t wait to see her brother.
The two of them watched in silence as the scene in front of them played out, seeming more like some movie, or the end of a TV show they’d been binging instead of something they’d just survived. And even though Kennedy was handcuffed in the back of a cruiser on the other side of the parking lot, Hadley still experienced the odd shiver running over her skin at the thought of how close they’d all come to death.
She pulled the crinkly blanket tighter. Luke noticed the motion and wrapped an arm around her, making even more noise than before. They both laughed, but Hadley stayed close, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Where’d you find that bat anyway?” Hadley asked, still only chipping away at all of the questions she had about the last few hours.
“It was in my truck.” Luke shrugged.
Hadley pulled away so she could look him in the eye. “But I thought you played football.”
Luke smiled. “I did. Playing one sport doesn’t automatically ban you from another, Had. Plus,” he said, clearing his throat. “That bat wasn’t for playing. I keep one in my house and in my truck, just in case.”
Hadley set her head back on his shoulder and whispered, “Just in case.”
Squealing tires made her sit bolt upright. Her brother jumped out of the passenger side of a cruiser before it was fully stopped.
“Had,” he called, frantically searching the mess of people and cars.
“Paul.” She meant his name to be louder, but a little too much emotion latched itself on to the word, and it came out in more of a rasp.
But it was a rasp he heard. Paul’s gaze locked on to his twin sister’s and he jogged over. She stood just in time to be enveloped in one of her brother’s famous bear hugs.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” he said, pulling her even tighter. When he let her go, Paul looked over to Luke, holding out his hand. When Luke took it, Paul pulled him into a tight hug too. “Thanks for going after her.”
Stepping back with all the hugs out of the way, Paul’s dark eyebrows furrowed over his tired eyes. “How’d you know she would be here, though? Tell me everything. McKay was vague on the phone.”
“Uh, Cassie Lee,” Luke said. “She called the farm asking for me and told me Hadley was about to do something dangerous.”
“Apparently, you two aren’t the only ones who can tell when I’m lying. When I asked Jaxon Bayne about how to get into the old hospital, he called Cassie and warned her about what he thought I was about to do.” Hadley never would’ve thought she’d owe her life to a teenage drug dealer.
Paul glanced over at another ambulance, where Miranda and Dennis were getting checked over by paramedics. Kennedy, as a doctor, knew he needed to keep them hydrated at least, but Miranda especially was malnourished after four days without much food.
“They look okay, considering,” Paul said. “How Dennis got mixed up in this, I can’t understand.”
Hadley and Luke smiled at one another.
“We found that out too,” Hadley said. “Dennis explained it all while we waited for the police. It turns out, he’s actually Miranda’s dad. He and Brenda had a bit of a fling when they were just out of college. Brenda, however, was dating some guy in Cascade Ridge whose family had a lot of money. She tried to convince the other guy that the baby was his to get child support, but his family threatened to have a paternity test done. Even with the other guy out of the picture, Brenda figured Dennis wouldn’t take her back, so she decided to raise Miranda on her own.”
Paul shook his head. “So she knew this whole time and waited until Miranda was missing to tell the poor guy?”
Luke cleared his throat. “Well, she probably still doesn’t realize she spilled the secret at all. Dennis went over to visit Brenda and he found her completely wasted. He was worried she’d overdosed, so he rushed her up to the emergency room. Apparently, along the way, high Brenda told him everything. They’re going to wait until the drugs are completely out of her system to break the news to her.”
Hadley took over. “And while Dennis was at the hospital, he overheard some nurses talking in a stairwell. They speculated about Kennedy overprescribing his patients and wondered if he had something to do with the kid who had gone missing. When he confronted Kennedy about it, he said that Kennedy denied it at first, but then whispered in his ear that if Dennis so much as scratched his nose around the police, Miranda was a goner and so was Brenda.”
Luke nodded. “Then he told Dennis he wanted money in exchange for Miranda. So Dennis drove back to Stoneybrook, emptied his bank account and grabbed all the cash from the store and brought it back to see if they’d take a ransom.”
Hadley thought back to Thea telling them how frantic the man had been, grabbing all of his money. “Kennedy, of course, didn’t care about the money anymore and saw an opportunity in Dennis.”
Paul’s face tightened. “How’s that?”
Hadley dipped her chin. “Well, Miranda said she followed Zack here, hoping to buy from him since Jaxon wouldn’t sell to her, but she’d ended up walking in on Kennedy knocking him over the head hard enough to kill him. She said Kennedy kept Zack’s body around, grumbling about setups and time of death. She thinks he was trying to figure out how to make it look like Zack killed her, but he knew the medical examiners would be able to tell he died before she did.”
“But when Dennis showed up, he provided Kennedy with another person to pin it all on.” Luke sighed.
“And that’s why he waited until yesterday to get rid of Zack’s body,” Paul said. “But why did he kill two of his dealers in the first place?”
Hadley and Luke glanced at each other and shrugged. “That you’re going to have to ask the monster himself.”
“I’m guessing they somehow found out who he was and he had to get rid of them.” Hadley looked down at her feet. “I’m just glad Miranda’s okay.”
“Thanks to you two,” Paul said, patting Luke on the shoulder and pulling Hadley into another hug. “Now let’s get the two of you home. I’m sure Suze is worried sick.”
Peeling off the plastic blanket, Hadley frowned. “How would Suze know? No one in Stoneybrook knows where I went but Cassie.”
Paul's cheeks turned slightly red and he shook his head. “Right, I meant once we tell her.” His left eye twitched, a definite sign he was lying.
A weight settled on Hadley’s shoulders as she followed Luke and Paul. She may have solved one mystery, but the other was still very much unsolved.
25
It took a day for Hadley’s phone to stop ringing constantly, two for people to stop referring to it as a miracle, and by Thursday she still couldn’t make it ten feet down Main Street without having to stop and recount her recent brush with death to someone she was sure had already heard the story twelve times.
Which was why, by Friday, she decided to stay home and take a much-needed day off to rest and celebrate making it to another birthday. Never in her life had she been so appreciative of turning another year older.
Gran had talked about that British baking show so much, and Hadley decided it would be the perfect escape. After sleeping in a little extra, she moved to the couch with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a box of Milanos—because thirty-one-year-olds could have dessert for breakfast if they darn well pleased. Within ten minutes, both cats were curled up on her legs, purring away, and she’d officially become hooked on the show.
By the end of the second episode, she’d already gotten a phone call from her parents, as well as Grandpa Steve. She loved her family’s tradition of calling people up on their birthday and singing to them. While her parents had made a lovely harmony, no one could beat out Grandpa Steve, a member of a handful of barbershop quartets in his heyday.
When she was nearing the end of the first season, Hadley’s phone beeped with a new message. She smiled as a picture came through from Cassie. It was of Bailey; his grumpy little cat face filled the screen and she’d put some filter on the picture, making it look like he was wearing a birthday hat. The text followed right after.
Bay says Happy Birthday, Hadley!
Before she could respond, another picture came through. It was a selfie of Cassie, Miranda, and Kelsey.
And so do we!!!
Hadley sent her thanks, unable to help the huge grin from taking over her face at the sight of the three girls together. In the days since Miranda had been rescued, the three of them had been almost inseparable. Because Miranda’s mom was still recovering, she’d been spending her days in her hospital room and her nights at Cassie’s house. Kelsey had been staying over as well, and she and Cassie had buried whatever issues had previously stood between them, recognizing life was too precious and short to waste with unnecessary drama—at least, that’s what they’d told Hadley.
While she was sure Miranda would never be quite the same after her scare, the teen seemed to be doing well, with the help of therapy sessions both by herself and with her mother. It didn’t hurt that she’d gained another parent out of the equation. And while she and Dennis had already built quite a steady relationship over the years, they were taking the whole dad-and-daughter thing one step at a time.
The credits for the end of the season-one finale of the baking show scrolled by hours later, as Hadley shaped her scones and stuck them onto a baking sheet. She hadn’t been able to stand watching the bakers create such beautiful creations without craving the chance to get her hands in some flour.
She’d just set the timer and was about to start the next season, when there was a knock at her door. Gran stood on the other side.
“Happy Birthday, love.” She enveloped Hadley in the kind of warm, all-encompassing hug only a grandmother can give.
Stepping back, Gran held out a small, glittery bag with pink tissue sticking out the top.
“Thank you, Gran. You didn’t have to.”
“Of course I didn’t, but I wanted to.” Gran winked and ushered Hadley inside to open the gift.
Careful not to rip the delicate tissue, Hadley pulled out a soft item wrapped in another sheet of the pink paper. She unfolded it to reveal a gray knit hat with a delicate blue-and-pink, variegated Fair Isle pattern. It looked so soft, something Hadley confirmed immediately by wrapping her fingers around the fuzzy gift.
“I love it.” She beamed. Sliding out her ponytail holder, Hadley let her hair down, combing her fingers through it for a moment to make it lay flat before she pulled on the beanie and sighed. She leaned forward to give Gran a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a yarn wizard. Believe me. I’ve tried patterns like this and they are not easy.”
“A lifetime of practice,” Gran said with a wink. She glanced around the kitchen, signs of baking evident. Then she turned to see the television, paused at the start of the next season. “You watched it?” Her blue eyes lit up and she clapped.
Hadley laughed. “Gran, I’ve moved well beyond watching and have hit the slippery slope toward obsession. Want to stay for an episode? You can help me taste test my scones when they’re done.”
Gran’s smile faded. “I’m afraid I can’t. I’ve got to help your parents get ready for your birthday dinner tonight, and I’ve confiscated one of their cars. They’ll be needing that back soon.” She gently patted her hair, which Hadley noticed was particularly well coifed, twisted up into a smart chignon.
“Your hair is lovely,” Hadley said, dipping her head to each side to take in the full effect.
“Do you like it? Nell just did it for me over at the salon.” Gran twirled slowly.
“Nell’s a genius with—” But Hadley couldn’t seem to finish her sentence. As Gran made it to the one hundred eighty degree part of her full circle, Hadley caught sight of a colorful, painted chopstick sticking out of Gran’s bun.
The kind Suze made and used daily to contain her curly locks. The exact kind Suze was always adamant she wouldn’t sell to others because she wanted them to be her signature piece. Every artist has to have a signature style, Suze always said when asked why she refused to market them at her booth. It was also the same accessory of Suze’s that Hadley had found in Paul’s truck months earlier, the stick that had broken the camel’s back, so to speak—if the camel’s back was Hadley’s trust.
“Is that one of Suze’s chopsticks?” Hadley fought to keep her question level. “Did she give it to you?”
Gran finished her turn and patted her hair until she located the stick. “Oh, no. I was just holding it for her, to remind myself to get it back to her. She left it at the salon.”
Hadley’s eyes narrowed. While most of the town shared Hadley’s glowing opinion of Nell’s skills with dye and scissors, Suze refused to get her hair cut in the salon. She’d tried it once when they were younger and had left the place in tears, saying people just didn’t understand curly hair. As a result, Suze cut her own curls, and made Hadley clean up the back portion she couldn’t reach—making her show her where she intended to cut, three times, before she would let her do so.
